Back in town

I realize that it appears from my last post like we are still in Botswana, but we aren’t!  In the past month we saw some amazing sights traveling from South Africa to Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, then returned home to unpack from that adventure to quickly repack for what became a 60 hour trip back to the U.S.  In the middle of all of that there were many good-byes.

I want to continue writing here, at least for a while, to complete the story of our seven months in Africa.  Major computer problems, jet lag, family visits, and processing time have prevented me to date, but I hope to post some pictures and stories soon.  Thank you for your interest in our trip… we are back safe and healthy, and forever changed.

Off to Botswana…

We leave tomorrow for a two week safari around Botswana (the “real Africa”) with stops in Namibia and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls.

If you want to see what a safari trip includes look here:

http://www.bhejane.com/tour-content.asp?tourID=6
http://www.4x4adventures.com/display.php?t=2&i=70

We’ll be anxious to share photos when we return!

Happy Independence Day from Africa

We had a 4th of July party here today with a mixture of American and African friends.  We “grilled” (rather than braaied) chicken, ribs, and hotdogs, along with some non-traditional Boervorst.  While American music played some of the guys watched a rugby match on television.  It was quite a mixture of cultures, but just about everyone wore red, white, and blue.  We have flaunted our American citizenship quite a bit recently…

Brian, Rachel and Rebekah traveled with many of our American friends 7 hours to the Confederation Cup Soccer match USA vs. Egypt.

Check out Brian’s blog for a first-hand account, but there were fewer than 1000 American fans at the stadium that held between 24000 and 40000 fans, depending on which source you trust.  The USA claimed a surprising victory over Egypt that night, leading to matches into the finals where the USA faced Brazil.  We enjoyed watching those matches on television with our many African friends…

Thembi, Tsitsi, Precious, and Zanele joined me to watch the game Brian was at. Zanele and Aphile spent the night with Ruthie and I for their first "sleep over"

Munye supported the US to the bitter end

Watching the final game in our living room

It is fascinating to talk to Africans about their opinion of America.  Many people believe Americans are “bullies,” but at the end of the day most want to come someday.

God bless the USA.

Forgotten or Ignored

We have only one month left in Africa, and although we are looking forward to seeing family and friends and leaving the gates and crime behind, I love it here.  Ok, I admit it.  Many told us Africa would get into our blood, and I think they are right.  In many ways it is not logical… crime, poverty, suffering, who would want to be immersed in those?  Well, I do.  I feel like I have finally found clothes that fit.  And then it hit me, weren’t Christians called to care for the widows and orphans, those who have been forgotten or ignored?  Maybe this is a God-given desire to be with those Jesus would have chosen to spend time with.  Look at just a few…

Precious orphans. 80% are themselves HIV positive

The kids love Ruthie's blond curls and white skin!

Most of these children will never be adopted

Our time at a Township hospital Pediatric wing was eye opening. The conditions were disturbing, the situations gut wretching

My "peek a boo" buddy was ready to be discharged three weeks ago, but she has no where to go...

Just down the road from the hospital is Bonginkosi preschool. We spent some of our Fulbright money bringing them books to start a library. We got the feeling they don't have access to books often...

The schools for the forgotten children here are disgraceful.  I have been to four township schools now and here is some of what I saw…

Our library donation tour continued down the road from Bonginkosi. This high school for 1400 kids is one of the few with library facilities, but look at the shelves...These kids have almost no chance to compete at the university level

A different high school. None of the schools I saw had electricity or running water. I saw few textbooks. This school was the worst

School toilets

The only "running water" on the property

You don't need to look far to find children in need. Without our help Aphile would end up in one of the township schools. It is so hard to only be able to help one

Sweet Thando

I don’t know how I will handle leaving Africa and returning to the comfort of home.  I am afraid to let the tears start because I don’t know if they will end.  For now we are doing what we can.  If you would like to help, we are collecting money to distribute before we leave.

Please send checks to:

The Augustines

PO Box 2712

Harrisonburg, VA 22801 USA

Opportunities

I remember being at home and receiving numerous requests for money to help the “starving children in Africa.”  Although those requests always tugged at my heart I never knew whether the money would actually help anyone.  Well now we know some of the struggling, and possibly starving, children here.  We hear the stories, meet the people, and try to determine how to help.  Unfortunately we can’t help everyone.

Some of you have asked how you could help from where you are.  While we are still in Africa I would like to give you the opportunity to boost up some of the people and ministries we have gotten to know the best.

I have mentioned Precious and her 11 year old daughter Phumla several times.  Precious is an amazing Christian woman who has persevered through a difficult childhood and is committed to giving her daughter opportunities she never had.  Right now she lives in the converted garage of the house we are living in working as a maid and nanny.  She moved here to work for the owners of this house, hopefully in a classroom.  But that never happened.  She is realizing that her future can no longer be tied to them since they are pursuing plans to leave the area and possibly the country.  If they were not here to provide housing she and Phumla could not afford to live on the low wages she earns.  Back in her hometown Precious has been working to build a small house.  This is her insurance policy.  If she finds herself without housing or a job she would return home and find work there.  She has big dreams of opening a creche or starting an AIDS project there since her township has neither.  She has been paying for the building of the small two room house for years, one window at a time.  She thinks she needs less than $500 to complete it, but that is a significant chunk of what she earns in a year.

Thembi and Rabson left Zimbabwe last year so he could attend seminary here.  Unfortunately the exorbitant cost of passports to leave their country resulted in them leaving their daughter Anesuishe, now 7, behind with relatives.  For reasons not understood by me, although Thembi has been teaching here since January, she still has not been paid.  This is apparently not unusual, but rather inconvenient, and could easily continue until August.  As a result, they have been unable to even visit their daughter.  However, we want to help them travel to their home during the school break in July and bring their daughter back.  The cost to renew Thembi’s expiring passport, apply for Anesuishe’s passport, and pay for bus fare for all of them will cost approximately $1000.

I have recently been introduced to a great program “Ethembeni,” started by a church almost 10 years ago.   They saw a need and have boldly stepped out to help.  The AIDS epidemic here is astounding.  From what I can tell, the overall adult rate of infection in the country is almost 19%.  This means the rate in townships is even more staggering, often over 50%. The ripple effect is incredible and children are often the ones who suffer most.  This program has three parts – first, a four bed hospice and respite.  Second, home visitation.  Volunteer Christian counselors are paired with a paid worker (often someone previously helped by the program) who lives within the community and the team invests themselves in the lives of eight families affected by HIV.  When I went with a team on four visits they were helping with everything from providing food and clothing, to counseling, to assisting with medical aid paperwork.  There are currently 48 families receiving this help with a significant waiting list.  The third part of the program is a family center for the numerous child-led families left after parents have died from AIDS.  The center cares for 50-60 young children each day so the older siblings can attend school.  Then after school they provide homework help and an evening meal.

A 6 year old orphan in the AIDS hospice. His health has greatly improved since arriving two weeks ago.

Josh and Jamie Quarandillo are Americans who have been living in Pietermartizburg with their four children since 2005.  They began a program “Enable Now” in a local township (“Ward 34”) that uses soccer and personal relationships with children to address spiritual, leadership, and economic development.  The community that they serve in is plagued with ancestral worship, HIV/AIDS, TB, rape, murder, substance abuse, crime, violence, unemployment, and lack of education.  They have begun a business with the boys turning local agricultural waste into charcoal that they hope to start selling to a larger market soon.  Many of the children on their soccer team are orphans, and one lives in a shack he built for himself at age 12.  Providing structure, productive activities, love, support and encouragement has given hope to some of those who previously had none.  Josh and Jamie have adopted one boy and another currently lives with them. To find out more about the lives of some of the boys in Ward 34, visit the Enable Now Participant Profiles.

Making charcoal

The home of one of the boys

You may be wondering why I have not mentioned my friend Zanele and her family.  Well, that is because we have committed to help them ourselves.  As I have mentioned in earlier posts, even public education is not free here.  There are annual fees and uniform costs for anyone who attends.  Like private schools back home, each child must apply to a school and their acceptance is based not only on their academic ability, but also their ability to pay.  Zanele’s daughter is in kindergarten (Grade R) now at a township school.  Because we think a good education could help her whole family, we are going to sponsor her at a school she would never be able to afford.  We have been visiting, applying, and interviewing at potential schools, and are praying for acceptance at the best school for her.

Aphile's first ever ride on a merry-go-round when we took them to the fair

Would you be interested in helping a child attend school?  Bonginkosi Preschool needs sponsors for scholarships.  Whether it is Thando, Noxolo, or one of the other 50 children, please know all of them are in difficult situations and desperately need the food, love, and teaching they receive there.

Zodwa's class

If you would like to help with one of these needs you may send a check to us, and you can be sure that all of the money will be used to help real people with real needs. Siyabonga (we thank you)!

The Augustines
P.O. Box 2712
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Enable Now! is a ministry that serves impoverished communities through

spiritual, leadership, and economic development.

Becoming a Vegan

We can get most foods here, maybe not exactly what we are used to, but similar.  I have mentioned before that we miss American chocolate chips, pasta sauce, pizza and orange juice.  We can get them here, but they are definitely not as good.  Some food items are imported, but too expensive to splurge on.  For example, Post Shredded Wheat is more than $9.00 per box!  Thankfully we have discovered some African food that we enjoy as well.  I personally like the chutney, digestives and rusks, and hope to bring some back with us.  Our family also enjoys the porridge and Pap that are staples of the Zulu diet.

I am getting used to a limited choice in stores, comparing prices in Rand, and the different names for certain items (like mince rather than ground beef), however I still struggle when buying meat and eggs.  Eggs are not refrigerated here, and what do you notice about them?

Egg with feathers still on it

Yes, the eggs often still have feathers on them, but that is better than the chicken poop I have found on others! 

Then there are the meat markets… They are filled with meat parts that most Americans would never consider eating (remember Easter?).  When Ruthie and I were shopping recently there were several whole skinned lambs lying on top of the shelves, and Ruthie said “I think they are dead.”  Yes I think so.

Once Bitten…

Poor Ruthie!  First a bee sting, then the chicken pox, and then this:

Ruthie’s bite marked with a pen to track its growth

This developed on Ruthie’s arm one morning… an itchy swollen large red “spot”.  We marked it with a permanent marker (“koki pen”), and sure enough it spread until the swollen area reached her wrist.  When we brought her to the clinic the nurse said she had never seen anything like it, but Ruthie definitely had a bite of some sort, and the venom was spreading down her arm.   All she was sure of was that it was not a spider bite because they have black spots in the middle and this did not.  She gave us liquid anti-histamine and some anti-itch ointment and by the next day it was greatly improved.  Unfortunately after completely disappearing it has now reappeared as a small itchy spot.  Ruthie takes it all in her stride.  I will keep watching…

Home Invasion :)

We were invaded by a thief, but not the kind we expected… It was a huge baboon!

Here is what happened.  Last weekend the girls had yet another school break, so we went to the Drakensburg Mountains for some hiking and bonding time.  We spent two nights at Tendele Camp, and two at Didima Camp in Cathedral Peak.

Both places warn you not to feed the baboons, and claim that the animals can open doors and windows.  Sound far fetched?  Well, Brian had walked to the camp store to buy some firewood and left the front door closed but unlocked.  While he was gone one of the girls started screaming that a big baboon was heading for the front door.  I casually walked over to it and sure enough, he was a few feet away from the door.  I locked it and yelled for him to “get away.”  He did, and ran across the front of the house.  The girls quickly went to check all the balcony doors and I went into the living room/kitchen to look out and see where he went.  I heard a noise and turned around to see a huge baboon in the kitchen, less than 10 feet away!  I think I screamed, which caused him to grab the loaf of bread off the table knocking to the floor several glasses, and run toward our bedroom! 

Meanwhile the girls had come into the room from the other side, saw the baboon, screamed, and ran to lock themselves inside their bathroom!  Once the chaos settled and I was sure all three girls were together hysterically screaming in the bathroom, the cleaning lady and I checked out the bedroom.  Can you believe the baboon had opened a locked window to enter and exit our lodge?!  This lady said they pry the windows open by wedging their fingers into the crack and sliding the lock.  Yikes.  As you can imagine this tale has been told with great enthusiasm many times since returning to town!

The baboon was toward the end of our trip, so thankfully we also saw some amazing sights…

 

Our cottage in Thendele Camp... Amazing views of the "amphitheater"

The girls enjoying the view from the back patio

We attempted the hike to Tugela Falls, the second tallest waterfall in the world, but the 5-6 hour roundtrip hike turned into an 8 hour event with no waterfall.  To add insult to injury, walking back we got caught in a rain and thunderstorm!  In addition to making us wet and cold, it also made the path slippery and Brian fell while carrying Ruthie on his shoulders.  She was fine, but he pulled his calf muscle so he had trouble walking the remaining 5k.  I had to carry Ruthie and Rachel had to carry the backpack.  Quite an outing!  However, we saw some beautiful scenery, bonded together as a family through difficult circumstances, and had a great time later drinking hot chocolate by the fire.  Who could get too upset with this scenery?

Early on in the hike...Look at that clear blue sky...

Found some awesome rock pools, but no waterfall!

The trail was a bit more technical than advertised..."it is definitely appropriate for a 4 year old..."

Where did those clouds come from?!

 

8 hours later we were glad to get back!

We relaxed the rest of the trip, had perfect weather, and had a great time (except for the little baboon incident!).

Our "cottage" at Cathedral Peak. I can see why the baboons like it here...

Not the second tallest, but lovely waterfalls

 

 

 

In the US, the land here would be prime real estate.  However we have noticed that places like this with amazing views are not valued highly because they are a distance from the cities, so rather than California style homes on the side of these mountains, there are shacks with no running water.   We think it is ironic that the poorest in this country have the best views… I wish there was a way for them to cash in on it.

The Drakensburg Mountains with a rural village at the base

Chicken Pox

Ruthie apparently had chicken pox!  I say apparently because we did not know it until they were gone… I told Mom online two weeks ago that Ruthie had a strange rash on her face that spread to her lower arms.  It was not really bothering her so we did nothing.  Well now all of the Passaro children have rashes and their doctor said it is chicken pox.  All of them, including Ruthie,  had been vaccinated in the US and therefore had abnormal mild cases.  Shortly before Ruthie developed a rash, I started having strange pain on the right side of my face and head.  It hurt whenever I blinked my eyes, so was bothering me quite a bit.  I told Brian it felt like I had some sort of virus in the nerve endings, and I was incredibly tired.  Ibuprofen and sleep seemed to help, but now I am wondering if it was shingles.  I still get the pain occasionally, but it comes and goes and does not bother me much anymore.  Where we are in Africa there is no malaria risk, but there are strange sicknesses.  People are not vaccinated for many illnesses so it is common for people to have chicken pox, measles, mumps, etc.  I guess compared to the AIDs epidemic and TB no one really cares about the other relatively insignificant diseases.

Rachel had chicken pox last year and so far no spots on Bekah.  However, Rebekah has been home from school this week with a bad cold.  I may need to take her to a doctor tomorrow to make sure she does not have an ear or sinus infection… I guess this is what happens in winter – yes, winter 🙂

Adventures with Precious and Phumla

If you recall, Precious and her daughter Phumla live in a small room attached to the house we live in.  Although she is bright and talented and Precious works everyday, she barely has enough money to buy the basics.

Saturday morning cartoons in the bed Precious and Phumla share

We have decided that God has brought them into our path for a reason, so we are trying to be obedient to the commands to help the needy.  To help reduce her food costs, we invite them to have dinner with us almost every night.  We have thoroughly enjoyed the time with them, learning about her life and faith.

Fortunately we have also been able to take them on some new adventures, things they can’t do because they have no car or money…

Phumla had never been fishing before, and does not have an involved father to take her

Brian took all the girls fishing, and caught one of the biggest fish he has ever reeled in! Phumla loved it!

Rachel is "morally opposed" to fishing, but she made the best of it! Here she was showing off the sunglasses she "stole" from Precious

We went to a neat little town along the Midlands Meander where there was a candle making shop…

Everyone participated

Precious helping Ruthie

After coming home, Precious carefully wrapped the candles she and Phumla made and put them in her drawer for "special occasions." It cost me only $.60 for each person to make a candle, but to her it was very valuable and special

On the way back from the candle making trip, we saw a waterfall off in the distance.  Precious and Phumla were thrilled to catch a glimpse.  So, the next chance we had…

Howick Falls, less than 30 minutes from our house... Look carefully at the top - see the people washing their clothes? (See Picture section)

We hiked to the bottom so we could see the falls up close

Unfortunately our car does not have room for everyone, so since there are essentially no car safety laws (no car seats - this one we imported - kids sitting on laps, in the front seats with no belts, etc ) we often do things we would never do back home... This time Phumla and Bekah rode in the boot (trunk)

Precious is from Port Shepstone, just under 3 hours from here.  She is the only family member who does not still live in the township where she grew up.  It is both costly and risky for Precious and Phumla to take the multiple taxis home, and without any cars in the extended family there is little way to visit each other.  Phumla and Precious both have birthdays this month, so we decided to drive them home to see their relatives for the weekend.  We are apparently the only white people to EVER enter their house…

Inside the house Precious grew up in with her Dad, Step-Mom, Granny, siblings and cousins... Just some of the many relatives who greeted us!

Bekah with a mouthful of a Zulu vegetable they shared with us from the garden... It was better with salt!

Over the past 7 years, Precious has saved small amounts of money to buy land near her relatives and build a “house of their own.”  We walked down the steep footpath to see it…

The half finished two room house

It will take less than $500 to complete the house, but that is significant for them

Precious dreams of one day living here and opening a Creche (Christian preschool) in the neighborhood.  Presently there are no schools for children prior to Kindergarten, and so the children are often completely unsupervised all day and unprepared for schooling later.

A neighbor's house. I saw several small, naked children here.

The neighbor closest to where Precious is building

On the drive home Sunday Precious told us her family “went on and on” about how friendly and relaxed we were in their home.  They were apparently “shocked” that we would want to visit with them, and could hardly believe that we were trying to learn a little Zulu.  Why wouldn’t we want to visit with these kind and generous people?  It was definitely the highlight of my weekend.

Before we left, Precious’ Auntie, Uncle and Cousins brought us some Zulu gifts, and believe me they don’t have anything extra.

The cousins climbed up their tree to pick a bag full of guava fruit. Auntie then walked to the water pump to wash them for us.

Gifts of fresh lemons and avocados as well as that huge piece of sugar cane

We are looking forward to many more adventures with Precious and Phumla!